Description:This photograph covers a 10°x15° swath of one of the busiest parts of the summer Milky Way; the region around M8 (the Lagoon Nebula) and M24 (the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud). I consider this to be one of the best astrophotos in my collection. I entered this image at the 2004 Big Fresno Fair, but it didn't earn any awards. On the other hand, a photo I made of Yosemite Falls in the snow from the previous December earned an Honorable Mention in the Color Scenery division.

Imaging Camera:Olympus OM-1N (35 mm SLR) piggybacked on telescope

Imaging Scope/Lens:Zuiko 135 mm f/3.5

Mount/Tripod:Celestron C5+ single fork arm with integrated wedge

Guide Scope/Camera:None

Exposure Details:Film: Kodak EliteChrome 200. Lens Aperture: f/3.5 (however, the perfect sharpness of the stars in the corners leads me to believe that the lens was probably stopped down to f/5.6). Exposure: 22 minutes.